We Are Already Free

If you've ever felt stuck in the mud of a life that seems more grey than colourful…and you long for a deeper sense of purpose and fulfilment to get your flow going, this episode is for you. Today’s guest, James McCrae of the incredibly popular Instagram page Words Are Vibrations, explores the transformative power of creativity as a tool for personal healing and social change. Listen on to unlock your hidden potential and embrace the sacred essence of life itself.

Welcome to the We Are Already Free podcast, inspiring down-to-earth seekers to live their truth and be the change. I’m your host Nathan Maingard, and it’s an honour to be here with you.

We are joined today by James McCrae, the man behind Words Are Vibrations on Instagram. James is an artist, poet, and teacher who empowers creators to live with purpose and turn imagination into reality. He is the founder of Sunflower Club, a global community dedicated to creativity as a tool for personal healing and social transformation. As a creative strategist, he has worked with top brands and startups to define and actualize their message and mission. His books include Sh#t Your Ego Says and How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis.

Throughout this episode, we dive deep into various thought-provoking topics that are sure to resonate with you:

• Unveiling the Shadows: Why Memes, Writing, and Art Are Shadow Work

• Discover how engaging with memes, writing, and art can serve as a powerful means of exploring your own shadow, unearthing hidden truths, and catalyzing personal growth.

• Escaping the Matrix: The Journey Within

• Explore the fascinating concept that life on Earth is not about escaping the matrix, but about navigating it with awareness. James invites us to transcend fear, tap into intuition, and embrace the liberating path of self-discovery.

• Trusting Your Intuition: A Gateway to Freedom

• Stay tuned until the end to uncover the secrets of trusting your intuition. James reveals practical techniques and insights that will empower you to enhance your decision-making, find reassurance, and discover your life's true purpose. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why creativity is not just about solving problems but receiving divine inspiration, and how embracing your innate creativity can lead to personal growth, healing, and the positive transformation of society as a whole.

LINKS AND THINGS:

• Words Are Vibrations on Instagram

• James McCrae's website

• Sunflower Club Podcast

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This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, members get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• Access the BONUS video where James shares how to create epic memes, and also how to deal with sharing creativity vs being affected by what others think.

• Get a Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• Chat with other listeners in a private community

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

Struggling to stick to your healthy habits, so you end up self-sabotaging and feeling bad about yourself, again and again, no matter how hard you try? Good news, you’re in the right place, because in this episode of We Are Already Free, Christian van Camp is here to inspire us to find our purpose, build a life of healthy habits, and align our purpose with service!

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast that empowers down-to-earth seekers to embody authenticity and be the change. I'm Nathan Maingard, empowering wordsmith and transformational guide. If you've realized that feeding negativity with your attention only creates more of it, and if you're ready to live a juicy life with your tribe, then join us as we release limiting beliefs and embrace the freedom within.

Christian Van Camp is a Holistic Lifestyle and Performance Coach on a mission to energize and empower men to live a more healthy, adventurous, and balanced life. Since childhood he overcame many challenges with his family’s health, trauma, and addiction all which inspired him to study the vast array of ancestral wisdom and modern science the past 8+ years. Most days you’ll catch Christian barefoot hiking in nature, working out, jumping in ice baths, cooking delicious meals, and playing with his two cats, Akira and Nika.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Christian overcame an unhealthy standard american lifestyle and becase the hercules he is today

• Why it’s not always the best idea to trust ‘the studies’

• How to work with the primal survival instinct of negativity

• How to overcome overwhelm

• And, near the end, Why how you start your day is the most important thing of all

• …plus, heaps more…

Find out more about Christian Van Camp:

• Christian on IG: https://instagram.com/cvcwellness

• His website and 12 week program: https://liveinnerfit.com/program-page

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• ACCESS THE BONUS CHAT ABOUT MASCULINITY HERE

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• Chat with listeners in a private community

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

Do you struggle with feelings of unworthiness, self doubt and insecurity, no matter what you achieve or how much love you receive from others?

Are you stuck in a cycle of striving and achieving, always seeking spiritual enlightenment or manifestation of your dreams...but never fully satisfied?

Then listen on, because in this episode of We Are Already Free, we dive into the world of darkness retreats with Scott Berman of Sky Cave Retreats, a guide and facilitator of this powerful experience. Through his wisdom and expertise, we explore the transformative potential of complete isolation without distractions or external validation.

Scott takes us on a journey of self-discovery and dissolving attachment to experiences and personalities, helping us tap into our own fullness and innate worthiness. We learn about the trap of trying to repeat peak experiences, the power of leaning into discomfort, and the importance of integrating the lessons learnt in the darkness into our daily lives.

So, if you're ready to dismantle the cycle of seeking and striving, and unlock a profound sense of completeness and worthiness within yourself, then tune in to this enlightening episode.

In this episode, Scott Berman shares:

• How he got started with darkness retreats and what inspired him to create Sky Cave Retreats

• The concept of darkness retreats and their therapeutic benefits

• Why ‘spiritual’ people often struggle the most in darkness retreats

• How darkness retreats contribute to the growth of consciousness and self-awareness

• Integration and preparation for a darkness retreat

• The difference between what we want and what we want to want

• The surprising realisation people often find in the dark

• How to do a DIY darkness retreat (it’s not as simple as it sounds)

• Near the end, a beautiful reflection on what We Are Already Free brings up for him

• …and, heaps more

Where to find our more about Sky Cave Retreats:

• Sky Cave Retreats on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skycaveretreats

• Sky Cave Retreats website: https://www.skycaveretreats.com

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• BONUS video about the most surprising transformations Scott has seen

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

Are you feeling lost in the chaos of the world, unsure of your path forward? Do you yearn for a life of freedom and joy, but feel trapped by societal norms and expectations? Look no further than this episode of the We Are Already Free podcast, featuring the insightful and inspiring Shannen Michaela Jones.

In this episode, Shannen shares her journey from good student, to circus performer, to global citizen, offering valuable insights and practical advice for anyone seeking to break free from the norm and live life on their own terms. She discusses the power of play and the importance of prioritising fun, as well as the challenges and benefits of living abroad and embracing unconventional paths.

But perhaps most importantly, Shannen speaks to the fear and uncertainty of a rapidly changing world, the need to unlearn old programming and beliefs, and the struggle to find our authentic selves in the face of societal pressure. Through her own experiences, she offers hope and inspiration for anyone seeking a more joyful and fulfilling life.

Don't miss this powerful episode of the We Are Already Free podcast, and join us on the journey to a life of freedom and joy.

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast inspiring down-to-earth seekers to live a meaningful life right now! I'm Nathan Maingard, empowering wordsmith, transformational guide, breathwork and cold immersion facilitator, and your host, bringing you authentic conversations with delightful guests who defy society’s norms simply by living authentic lives. Listen to this podcast to shake off limiting beliefs and embrace the freedom within, so you can deeply connect with yourself and all you love.

In this episode, Shannen Michaela shares about:

• Embodying joy and living your best life

• Birth tourism: collecting passports legally

• Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

• Living life outside the norm: embracing unconventional paths

• Using social media to spread truth and impact lives

• Near the end, Shannen shares an interesting perspective on climate change, so listen out for that

• This only scratches the surface…

Before we begin, I want to congratulate Shannen and her partner on the birth of their son, born in between the recording and release of this episode. Honoured to have been witness to the maiden to mother journey of Shannen, thank you for sharing your journey with us!

Links to Shannon Michaela:

• Shannen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannenmichaela/

• Costa Rica retreats: http://flowculture.xyz/

• Shannen shooting a balloon with foot archery while riding a skateboard doing a handstand: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgNlfgWqQzE/

• All Shannen's other links: https://beacons.ai/shannenmichaela

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• BONUS videos and exclusive conversations with podcast guests

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• Chat with listeners in a private community

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

In this vulnerable and emotional solo episode, I open up about my struggle with perfectionism and failure in both my personal and professional life. I share deep realization about the root of my self-punishment and the painful childhood experiences that shaped my nervous system's response to overwhelming emotions. I confront my inner demons and invite you to join me in the journey of acknowledging and embracing all parts of ourselves. Tune in to this powerful episode and be reminded that freedom lies in accepting and working through our wounds.

The video I mention in this episode is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNVfBeKTt24&t

Are you afraid of dying? Is it something you even think about? What if there’s an emergency, and you don’t have a choice…do you want to be on ventilators, tubed up and kept alive no matter what? And what about your parents, family, etc…do you talk about death, or is it hidden away? Yes, these are hard questions, but they are critical ones!

Thankfully, in today's episode, Dr Gary Shlifer, our first ever return guest, is back for a practical, inspiring conversation about the inevitable end facing us all. So, if you’re ready to feel empowered and informed about your choices and response-ability when it comes to death and dying, this episode is for you!

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast empowering down-to-earth seekers to embody authenticity and be the change. I'm Nathan Maingard, empowering wordsmith and transformational guide. If you are done with being trapped in the drama loop of doomscrolling and hopelessness; if you’re ready to live a meaningful life with people who celebrate your sovereignty, then join us as we release limiting beliefs to embrace the freedom within.

Dr. Gary Shlifer is the founder of Evolve Healthcare, a private medical practice in Los Angeles that focuses on disease prevention and lifestyle optimisation. He specializes in preventative care, nutrition/metabolism, and anti-aging medicine. Dr. Shlifer is also a co-founder of SAPIEN, an organization focused on promoting health education and advancing health information technology. His professional affiliations include Regal Medical Group, InMode Medical Aesthetics, and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Shlifer is passionate about promoting healthy living, eating, and lifestyle practices, and he has experience with hospital inpatient medicine to help prevent and cure disease for his patients. He also has deep personal experience with hospice care, and is actively supporting initiatives to empower people to be more empowered in navigating these challenging life experiences.

In this episode, Dr Gary Shlifer shares:

• Why having the awareness and experience of death is the great equaliser and can bring us all together

• How to develop the skills and maturity required to process death and live life fully

• Why death should be a part of everyone’s life

• How to make empowered decisions about end of life care

• Why so many people in healthcare choose the DNR (do not resuscitate) option for themselves in an emergency

• Why Dr Gary thinks assisted suicide should be an option, and the practicalities around that

• Near the end, Gary shares a deeply moving story about the power of having, or giving up, responsibility for our lives… (this is a super important one for any people pleasers out there)

• …heaps more…

Links to Gary and other Things:

• Dr Gary Shlifer on Instagram

• Evolve Healthcare

• Study on Dying in America

• Study on Psiocybin in terminal patients with a fear of dying

• VIDEO: Ayd Rand - Objectivism in under two minutes

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

Patrons get bonuses!

Become a Patreon member: 

• Access the BONUS video with Dr Gary Shlifer, where he shares his surprising advice for nutrition and lifestyle in end of life patients

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

Are you aware of the AI revolution currently taking over the world? Terrified? Excited? Well, In this episode of the We Are Already Free podcast, I speak with Andri Peetso, an expert in the field, about the breakthroughs and limitations of AI and chatGPT. We discuss the potential outcomes of these technologies and how they could affect our lives. From the dangers of biased information to the power to rewrite history, this conversation will open your eyes to the possibilities and risks of AI.

Andri Peetso is an author, biohacker & entrepreneur with expertise in visual creation, web development, and AI. He co-founded Conturata-AI, a platform that helps businesses increase engagement and productivity using AI. Andri also co-founded Whomesome, an educational platform for healthy environments, and Conturata, a video podcasting agency.

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast empowering down-to-earth seekers to live their truth and be the change. I'm Nathan Maingard, transformational guide and empowering wordsmith. If you’ve realised you only get more of what you focus on, and are ready to live an authentic life with your fellow weirdos, let's shake off limiting beliefs and embrace the freedom within.

In this episode, Andri shares:

• How to understand AI and chatGPT for the person who has no idea what it is

• Why AI is woke

• How to use chatGPT to improve your personal and professional life

• Later in the episode, we segue into Mastering Fasting, a book that Andri self-published after healing himself from Multiple Sclerosis

• And, as always, that barely scratched the surface of what we dive into (including why AI might be a baby God)

Links to Andri and other things:

• http://conturata.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@conturata-ai

• https://www.instagram.com/andripeetso

• Chunker for breaking up large text: https://conturata.com/ai/chunker

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• BONUS video with Andri Peetso where he shares a very powerful concept for improving results from chatGPT!

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• Chat with listeners in a private community

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

If you find yourself stuck in a never-ending, exhausting loop of trying keep up with all the things you need to do to be spiritual, healthy, enlightened, healed, together, abundant or ‘awake’ enough, this episode with Helena Wilde is the medicine for you!

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast that sparks your inner guide to break free from internal and external limitations.

I'm Nathan Maingard, breathwork and ice bath facilitator, transformational guide, and empowering wordsmith, bringing you authentic conversations with those who break society’s moulds simply by being their authentic selves.

Together, let's shake off limiting beliefs and embrace the freedom within, empowering you to transform your life and deeply connect with yourself and the world. Let the transformation begin!

In this episode, we laugh a HUGE amount, and you will too!

Some of the things Helena Wilde shares:

• Why it’s powerful to speak your truth, even when it’s hard

• Why truth and lies are both part of the same beautiful story

• How the journey of growth and rebirth works in an infinite universe

• The nature of existence

• Chaos. Duality. Enlightenment. Balance

• Regulating the Nervous system and becoming resilient

• Core Wounds of 'not enoughness'

• Evolution and the Hero's Journey

• And, near the end, Helena shares why she firmly believes we are heading towards a new Eden

• …heaps more…

Links to Helena Wilde:

• https://www.instagram.com/helenawilde (she keeps it simple)

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• Access today's BONUS video with Helena Wilde, plus many more

• Podcast shoutout

• Support podcast production

• Chat with listeners in a private community

• More patrons = less ads

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

In this special episode, I take a moment to express my gratitude for you, the We Are Already Free Podcast listeners, and emphasise the importance of leaving reviews. Discover how your feedback not only helps the podcast reach more people but also supports me in my journey to create content that truly resonates you and others.

Leave a review now at alreadyfree.me/review

Thank you, back next week with our usual offerings

Love
Nathan

PS: if this podcast is worth 30 seconds of effort to you, then please leave a review now at alreadyfree.me/review

Have you noticed that the world as we know it is ending? And, no matter how much we think we can escape to some cozy little place away from all the chaos, the reality is there is no escaping this time of endings, death, and letting go. If this freaks you out, overwhelms you, or leaves you wondering, “well, what the hell do I do at the end of the world?”, then this episode offers a deep, empathetic, and enlightening look at how we can be At Work In the Ruins of what was.

Today’s guest, Dougald Hine, is a social thinker, writer, speaker, and the co-founder of the Dark Mountain Project and ‘a school called HOME’. His latest book is At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics & All the Other Emergencies (2023) and he publishes new essays on his Substack, Writing Home.

Welcome to We Are Already Free, the podcast that empowers down-to-earth seekers to live their truth and be the change. I'm Nathan Maingard, breathwork facilitator, transformational guide, empowering wordsmith, and your host. Here you’ll find authentic conversations with everyday heroes who defy societal norms simply by living their rooted truth. Together, we are shaking off limiting beliefs and remembering the simple truth that we are already free!

In this episode, Dougald Hine shares:

• Why the end of the world is not the end of everything, and why we need to give it a good ending in order to allow something new to emerge.

• How disinvesting in the stories that power society allows us to see things clearly and find new ways of being.

• Why we need to listen to some of what science brings us without elevating it to a religious and political authority.

• How storytelling and culture have a deeper role in navigating the end of the world than just delivering a limiting message from the existing structures.

• Near the end, Dougald shares beautiful stories of why we all need initiation, even self-initiation

• This barely scratches the surface, there is so much more to this heartwarming, challenging, and empowering conversation…

You can find Dougald's book, links, Substack, and everything else at https://dougald.nu (love keeping it simple)

Links and things discussed in this episode:

some are affiliate links to support the podcast (at no extra cost to you)

• Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliviera

• Prophetic Cultures by Federico Campagna

• Full video version of this episode

• Sorry if I missed things, it's been a long week 😅

Become a member on Patreon for bonuses, shoutouts, and more:

This is a community-supported creation, thank you for making it possible. Plus, patrons get goodies!

Become a Patreon member: 

• Discover the unexpected insights and lessons that Dougald Hine has learned from diverse groups of people, and how these experiences shaped his perspective on trust, learning, and writing his book, At Work in the Ruins.

• Get your own personal podcast shoutout!

• Support podcast production (please sir, can I have some more)

• Chat with listeners in a private community (totally optional)

• More patrons = less ads (eventually)

Join the tribe, access the goodies and support the podcast at https://alreadyfree.me/patreon